The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended a 13-member criminal gang involved in hijacking trucks and stealing goods.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrests in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, adding that the suspects had been implicated in several armed robbery attacks in the state.
The group includes four Nigerian Army soldiers, an officer from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and eight civilians.
The gang was first reported on March 4 when they attempted to vandalise warehouses in the Elimgbu community.
Police intervention led to the arrest of five suspects, who were initially beaten by a mob. Further investigation revealed that two of the suspects, Corporal West Isaac from the Nigerian Army and NSCDC officer Jabila Kammangar, had abandoned their posts to engage in criminal activities.
Corporal Isaac, who joined the army in 2008, and Kammangar were part of a larger network specialising in armed robbery, truck hijacking, and goods diversion.
The gang used informants to gather intelligence on truck schedules and conducted operations dressed in military gear. They intimidated and assaulted truck drivers before redirecting the trucks to predetermined locations.
Following Corporal Isaac’s confession, three additional soldiers were arrested. All four soldiers have since been dismissed from the army and handed over to the police.
The gang’s civilian members were also apprehended, including a key coordinator stationed at Intel Logistics in Rivers.
The gang was involved in several high-profile thefts, including hijacking a trailer carrying fertilisers worth N25 million and a 40-foot container of imported clothing. The police have recovered some of the stolen goods and the white Toyota Hilux used in their operations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, praised the military’s cooperation and pledged to prosecute the suspects accordingly.